Which Catholic High Schools in Los Angeles Require the HSPT? (2025–26 Guide)

Why Catholic High Schools Use the HSPT

Private secondary education across Southern California features a wide variety of competitive choices. For families focusing on a faith-based, college-preparatory path, understanding the mechanics of the catholic high school Los Angeles HSPT requirement is essential. The High School Placement Test (HSPT), developed by the Scholastic Testing Service (STS), is utilized by dioceses and archdioceses nationwide to provide an objective measurement of an eighth-grade applicant’s academic foundations and reasoning abilities.

Admissions committees face the ongoing challenge of evaluating applicants from public, private, charter, and home-school backgrounds. Because grading standards and curriculum rigor vary significantly from one middle school to another, a student’s GPA alone cannot tell the whole story. The HSPT Los Angeles network uses this standardized test to establish a common baseline for all applicants.

Beyond general admission decisions, elite institutions use HSPT score reports for two critical administrative tasks: curriculum tracking and financial incentives. High scores help administrators place incoming freshmen into appropriate tracks, such as honors or Advanced Placement (AP) courses, while identifying students who may need foundational math or reading support. Additionally, schools use top-tier performance on this specific test to award competitive merit-based scholarships, making early and thorough preparation highly beneficial for families.

LA Catholic High Schools That Use the HSPT

The following section outlines prominent secondary schools in the greater Los Angeles region that utilize or accept the HSPT for their ninth-grade admissions cycle.

Important Note on Admissions Requirements: Admissions requirements change. Always verify current testing requirements directly with each school’s admissions office before your child registers.

Loyola High School (Los Angeles)

Located in the heart of Los Angeles, Loyola High School is a highly selective, all-boys Jesuit institution renowned for its rigorous academic curriculum and dedication to developing “men for others.” As a top-tier college-preparatory academy, the school attracts an exceptional pool of applicants from across the Southern California basin. The Loyola high school admissions test process relies heavily on the HSPT to assess an applicant’s verbal logic and quantitative skills. Because admissions are highly competitive, families should contact the admissions office for current score benchmarks and specific test date assignments hosted on their campus.

Notre Dame High School (Sherman Oaks)

Serving families in the San Fernando Valley, Notre Dame High School is a premier co-educational Catholic institution operating under the traditions of the Congregation of Holy Cross. The school is known for its balance of strong academics, competitive athletics, and visual arts programs. The Notre Dame high school HSPT requirement plays an important role in evaluating ninth-grade applicants, helping the admissions team identify students who can thrive in an accelerated environment. To ensure your application file is complete, families should check directly with the Notre Dame admissions team to verify registration deadlines and score-sharing protocols.

Bishop Alemany High School (Mission Hills)

Situated in the northern region of the San Fernando Valley, Bishop Alemany High School is a vibrant, co-educational Archdiocesan community committed to intellectual growth and spiritual development. The school offers a welcoming environment with a variety of dual-enrollment college courses and extracurricular programs. Bishop Alemany utilizes the HSPT as an essential part of its holistic admissions review to ensure incoming freshmen are placed in the appropriate math and language courses. Prospective families are encouraged to reach out to the school’s admissions office to confirm the exact dates for their winter testing windows.

Marymount High School (Los Angeles)

Located directly across from the UCLA campus in Westwood, Marymount High School is an elite, independent all-girls Catholic school that prepares young women for leadership roles in a global society. The academic environment is challenging, characterized by small class sizes and a deep focus on critical thinking. Marymount integrates HSPT performance into its comprehensive evaluation process, examining the test scores alongside middle-school report cards and personal interviews. Because application procedures can adapt between cycles, parents should consult Marymount’s admissions team directly to secure the latest testing updates.

St. Francis High School (La Cañada Flintridge)

Nestled in the foothills of La Cañada Flintridge, St. Francis High School is a highly regarded, all-boys Franciscan institution dedicated to academic excellence and character development. The school provides a supportive, brotherhood-driven environment alongside a demanding college-preparatory curriculum. St. Francis requires eighth-grade applicants to sit for the HSPT, utilizing the score report to evaluate basic skills and cognitive potential. Families should contact the St. Francis admissions office directly during the early fall to register for the official test dates hosted on their campus.

Chadwick School (Palos Verdes Estates)

Located on a beautiful hilltop campus in Palos Verdes, Chadwick School is a notable inclusion because it is an independent, non-sectarian co-educational day school rather than a Catholic institution. However, Chadwick frequently utilizes the HSPT as an accepted admissions test option for middle-school applicants. This makes the test highly versatile for families applying to a mix of secular independent day schools and traditional Catholic academies. Because testing options vary by grade level, families must communicate with Chadwick’s admissions team to confirm which specific testing profiles fit their current application tier.

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy (La Cañada Flintridge)

Perched atop the hills of La Cañada Flintridge, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy is a premier all-girls Catholic boarding and day school overseen by the Dominican Sisters. The academy offers an immersive college-preparatory experience with a strong emphasis on leadership, science, and the arts. Flintridge Sacred Heart requires eighth-grade applicants to submit HSPT results to assess their readiness for honors-level tracks and high-level writing courses. To plan your application timeline accurately, parents should connect with the academy’s admissions department to verify current application deadlines.

Chaminade College Preparatory (West Hills)

Serving families in the western San Fernando Valley, Chaminade College Preparatory is a distinguished, co-educational Marianist institution that educates students from middle school through twelfth grade. The high school campus in West Hills is recognized for its extensive honors curriculum, innovative technology integration, and community service programs. Chaminade requires ninth-grade applicants to complete the HSPT, using the results for general admission decisions and to identify candidates for merit scholarships. Families should verify the latest testing registration rules on Chaminade’s official portal during the early fall.

What HSPT Score Do These Schools Look For?

When navigating the private school admissions process, parents frequently ask, “What is a good HSPT score?” or “What exact percentile rank does my child need to secure an acceptance letter?” Because Catholic schools across Los Angeles use a holistic review process, there is no single score that guarantees automatic admission or triggers an immediate rejection.

Most regional Catholic high schools look for a national percentile rank (NPR) of 50th or above for general admission. This indicates that the student is performing at or above the national average for eighth-graders. However, for highly selective academies such as Loyola High School or Notre Dame High School, the competitive baseline typically requires an NPR of 75th or higher.

Earning a score in the 90th percentile or above can qualify students for prestigious merit scholarships, which many schools use to attract top academic talent. For a complete statistical breakdown of scaled scores, composite metrics, and percentile rankings, please explore our detailed HSPT Score and Ranking Guide.

When Is the HSPT Administered?

The HSPT follows a decentralized, school-driven schedule rather than a centralized national testing calendar. Because individual high schools manage their own test sites, registration is handled directly through each school’s admissions portal during the standard application cycle.

For students looking to enter high school as freshmen, the testing window opens in the late fall of their eighth-grade year, typically during November and December. Most Los Angeles Catholic high schools host their primary on-site testing dates on consecutive Saturdays in November.

Select institutions may offer secondary or make-up testing opportunities in January for students who were sick or unable to attend the initial dates. Because a student can generally only take the HSPT once per admission cycle, families must coordinate their calendar carefully. If your child is applying to multiple schools that require the test, you will register to take the exam at your primary-choice school and request that official score reports be forwarded to the alternative institutions.

How to Prepare for the HSPT in Los Angeles

Because the HSPT requires rapid execution across 298 total questions in just under two and a half hours, walking into the exam room without a clear plan can feel overwhelming for an eighth-grader. A structured preparation strategy is essential to help your child perform their best.

[Take Diagnostic Test] ──► [Analyze Pacing Gaps] ──► [Master Mental Math] ──► [Take Full-Length Practice Test]

1. Start with a Timed Diagnostic Test: Before buying study guides, have your child complete a full practice test under realistic conditions. This establishes a baseline and highlights which subtests—such as Verbal Skills or Quantitative Reasoning—require the most attention.
2. Focus Heavily on Pacing Mechanics: With less than 30 seconds available per question, speed is just as important as accuracy. Train your child to recognize when a question is taking too long, make an educated guess, and move forward immediately to find easier points.
3. Strengthen Mental Math Capacities: Calculators are strictly prohibited during all sections of the HSPT. Students must execute long division, fraction conversions, and pre-algebraic steps by hand or mentally, making regular practice without a calculator essential.
4. Use Strategic Guessing to Your Advantage: The HSPT features no penalty for incorrect answers. Unlike tests that deduct points for mistakes, a blank bubble and a wrong answer have the exact same impact on the final score. Emphasize to your child that they must fill in every single bubble on their answer sheet before time runs out.

For families balancing multiple application requirements, comparing options early can streamline your preparation. Reviewing our Comprehensive ISEE vs. SSAT Guide can help you understand alternative private school testing tracks. Working with a dedicated mentor who understands the specific expectations of Los Angeles schools can keep your child’s preparation efficient, focused, and stress-free.